Container



Feb. 16, 1954 B. 0. con, JR 2,669,373

CONTAINER Filed Jan. 4, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v INVENTOR. BURTON C. Corr, J/a

M6 4 zit/2% E,

Feb. 16, 1954 B. c. colT, JR ,6 9,3 3

CONTAINER Filed Jan. '4, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 G D If 2 9 b U1 ;E E85 IN V EN TOR. 50R ro/v C. C017; JP.

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to rack-type containers that are particularly suitable for storing and transporting small articles in factories and warehouses.

One object of my invention is to provide a container of the type referred to, wherein the vertical Walls may be of mesh-like or other light weight material held in relatively unitary relation and readily insertible into a crib-like framework of heavy bars or tubes.

Another object of my invention is to provide an inner container of the type referred to, wherein the said vertical walls are adequately supported against displacement under internal pressures even though they are of light weight and are readily removable from the crib-like frame.

Still another obiect of my invention is to provide an inner container having side and end panels of reticulated form that may readily be disconnected for replacement and repair.

A further object of my invention is to provide a container of the type referred to, wherein stop members are placed on the panel-like Walls in such positions that they will engage the crib bars at those points where they will be most effective in preventing displacement of the crate walls, and which walls can, nevertheless, be readily lifted from the crib.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide, in a crib structure, an inner crate having vertical walls that can be used in connection with cribs of limited varying sizes and which, even when bent somewhat out of shape, can continue in use or be readily straightened.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rack-type container embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the framework or crib for the side and end walls of the container; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the side walls of the container; Fig. 4 is an elevational View showing the outer face of one of the end walls of the container; Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical edge view of the side wall of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlarged edge view of the end wall of Fig. 4; Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged side and end views respectively, of one of the latches of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the end wall of Fig. 6; and Fig. '10 shows modification of the structure of Fig. 9.

The crib or frame for supporting the vertical walls of the container is shown more clearly in 2 and comprises posts II at its four corners to which are welded longitudinally-extending bars I2; upper cross bars I3, and lower cross bars 54 and I5. The members i2-III3 may suitably be of tubular form, Cleat bars I6 are welded 2 to the longitudinal bars or sills I2 and serve as supports for bottom boards I I that may be bolted thereto and also bolted at their ends to the angles I5. The rails I2 are set at such height as to permit the entry of lifting forks beneath them.

The vertical walls of the container, that fit within the crib, are here shown as of welded mesh or reticulated form mainly of 2 gauge wire. Each side wall is in the form of a pair of panels I 9- 20 connected by a spiral hinge 2|, so that when the upper latches are disconnected, the upper half portions of the side walls can be folded down for more ready access to the contents of the container.

The end walls of the container are in the form of welded mesh panels 22 that have stiffening angles 23 welded to their vertical edges and seating against the vertical posts I I of the crib, as indicated in Fig. 9. A hook 24 is welded to the upper edge of each end panel, for engagement with the top rail I3 of the crib.

The end and side walls of the inner container are detachably connected together by latch structure that comprises keeper loops 25 on the end 25 walls which, when the side and end walls are placed in relatively assembled relation, will project through openings in the side walls I92ll, for interlocking engagement with latch bars 26 that are slidably supported in eyes 21 of rods 28 that are welded to the side walls. Each bolt 26 has a loop 29 formed thereon that serves not only as a hand-hold, but also, under the action of gravity, serves to hold the bolt in latching position.

At their lower edges, the side walls I9 are held against bulging under pressure of the contents, by angular stop members 3| that abut the inner faces of the sills I2, and are formed of rods welded to the side walls and reinforced by gusset plates 32, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5.

The lower edges of the side panels 233 and the stop members 3l32 rest upon the top of the bars I2. When the latches at 26-21 are disengaged, the wall can be lifted out separately, without removing the other wall panels. Also, if only the top latches are opened, the upper front half or panel of the side walls can be swung open on the hinges 2!, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. The hooks 24 prevent falling of the end wall inwardly when the sides are removed, and also facilitate assembling of the walls into the rack.

Referring now to Fig. 10, I show an arrangement wherein the end walls 22 are-positioned entirely within the space between the columns 3. H and below the top rails l3. In this instance, Z-bars 33 are employed instead of the angles 23. This arrangement gives a little more room Within the container and relieves the end walls of some of the lading pressures.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a crib having a base frame of side and end bars and corner posts secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, of a container comprising end walls that are disposed against the inner transverse faces of the posts, stop members on the outer faces of the end walls in abutting relation to the opposed vertical faces of the posts, at each end of the base, side walls disposed between the posts at 15 each longitudinal side of the base, latch bars movably carried by the side walls, and keeper loops projecting from the vertical edges of the end walls and past the adjacent posts, in position to retain the latch bars.

2. The combination with a crib having a base frame of side and end bars and corner posts secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, together with a top rail connecting the posts at each end of the base, of a container comprising end walls disposed between the adjacent posts and having hooked engagement with the top rails, vertical angles welded to the outer faces of the end walls, adjacent to the vertical 4 ends of the walls, each in position to flt against the sides of the innermost angle of the adjacent post, and side walls each detachably connected to the vertical edges of the end walls at points between the end posts that are adjacent to the ends of each of the side walls, the side walls being movable outwardly relative to the posts.

BURTON C. COIT, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 892,494 Rohrssen Jan. 29, 1907 915,802 Smith Mar. 24, 1909 1,194,570 Stuart Aug. 15, 1916 1,834,951 Jarvis Dec. 8, 1931 1,890,983. Grifiith Dec. 13, 1932 2,239,483 Cocks Apr. 22, 1941 2,263,862 Usmar Nov. 25, 1941 2,297,097 Best Sept. 29, 1942 2,466,226 Gilbertie Apr. 5, 1949 2,503,811 Emigholz et a1 Apr. 11, 1950' 2,590,941 Coit Apr. 1, 1952 2,632,578 Brickman Mar. 24, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 509,397 Great Britain July 11, 1939 

